Who

Kelati, R'zel

What

R'zel tracks down a pair of new Ocelots: Kelati and Takatath.

When

It is midmorning of the fourth day of the second month of the fifteenth turn of the 12th pass.

Where

Forest Clearing, near Southern Weyr

OOC Date 25 Sep 2018 23:00

 

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Forest Clearing

Shaded at the edges, the underbrush is thick and full and thorns and burrs stick themselves into anything and everything that attempts passage. Rustlings in the tall, amber grasses reveal the presence of unseen creatures, and buzzing aerial pests harass and sting. Areas of shorter green weeds have obviously been grazed, and recently.


It's no mystery why Kelati and Takatath are here if you've met either one of them; it should also be no surprise that Kelati has filled her shoulder bag with various leavesand flowers and is now looking very frustrated. "No," she's saying, to a green who is holding an ENORMOUS EVERGREEN BRANCH in her maw, "You absolutely cannot take that home. It would take up half your ledge, get gross, rot quickly … no, you don't need one!" She's not irate, just a little irritabe, and Takatath looks so very disappointed. But eventually she puts the large branch down … and starts trying to pull a mostly-dead bush from the ground. "TAKATATH. NO."

R'zel and Verokanth are flying low across the forest on their way back from somewhere-or-other. It's the bronze who draws his rider's attention to the pair below as his wings cast shadows onto the clearing's long grass, and it's also he who, after a brief exchange with R'zel, projects a waft of minty curiosity towards Takatath. « Greetings. My rider wonders if yours has time to talk, and if there's room to land there. »

The conference between Takatath and Kelati is very short, and Takatath is probably not passing along how enthusiastic Kelati is about being interrupted when she says, « It might be a little crunchy but you can land! Kel is happy to socialize. » And stop Takatath from trying to bring the forest home to redecorate, also that. Verokanth did get the bush-pulling to stop, and so when he manages to land — whether or not it's a loud crunch of crushed short plants in the process — Kelati is picking bits of underbrush off Takatath's left foreleg and much calmer.

Verokanth circles a couple of times to spy out the land before making a controlled landing in the long grass. There's not an excessive amount of crunching, though a number of small creatures do flee the scene, even though they're far too small to make even a snack for a bronze dragon. R'zel climbs down, jumping the last few feet and giving a cheery wave to head off any saluting. "Kelati? Good. How's it going? I'm glad Vero spotted you: I need a word." Verokanth settles his considerable length in the sunniest part of the long grass, which will no doubt be seriously flat when he leaves.

Kelati might have started to salute, but she's definitely been effectively converted in the moment; the gesture turns into a polite wave back. "Nice landing," she says with a small smile, and it's unclear if she means R'zel's jump or Verokanth's touch down overall. The idea that he needed a word specifically with her, though, is met with a headtilt and a, "Yes, sir?" that sounds at least far more curious than apprehensive. Takatath abandons her hunt for a plant-carpet to go join Verokanth, who clearly gets no choice about whether he wants to share his sun.

R'zel brushes grass and plants aside as he takes long strides towards Kelati. "You're all finished with weyrlinghood, then." He glances upwards: yes, it's really too ridiculously sunny where he is, and no convenient cloud is likely to lessen the glare. He ambles on until he's in the deeper shade at the edge of the clearing before turning back to face the greenrider. "Looking forward to what comes next?"

"Yes," Kelati confirms, and then there's that word voiced, "And — apprehensively. I'm not anywhere near as thrilled about facing unyielding Threadfalls as she is." Indeed, Takatath's eyes whirl happily at the thought. Kelati is also getting pelted by sunbeams, but is content to continue to be so, even if she's squinting to actually look at R'zel. "If I minded completely, I would have quit candidacy, but. It will probably be nice, to have a real wing."

R'zel nods thoughtfully. "Well, they do tend to view it as their main purpose in life - which is not unreasonable. But once we're dragonriders, it does rather come with the job - at least for the next thirty-five turns or so. Perhaps it won't seem so intimidating when you've got a few Falls in a fighting wing under your belt." He turns to watch the green for a few moments. "How's her stamina?"

"It seems so exhausting," Kelati admits, and it's not the first time she's had this conversation. Which, at least, she knows. "But you're not the first to say that, that it's just something I can't wrap my mind around yet and I'll get used to it and understand. Oh, she's strong for a green," is added, proudly. "I have to fight to get her out of the air. But she's also still a green, I can't see her lasting longer than an hour or two?" This is Kelati's honest estimate, and Takatath hisses softly with disapproval when it's given, the tip of her tail twitching. "She's got interesting moves though. Tight turns and dives. They were real effective in training, even if I had a headache after."

R'zel frowns a little at that, and runs his gaze over the green's form. "That's why we don't take many greens in Ocelot - and why the Weyrleader has introduced rules about all greens and blues swapping out, because tired dragons get injuries. Still, she's young. You can probably expect her to develop more stamina than she has at the moment. How did she do when you were flying resupply?"

"She never wanted to land," Kelati says in a measured tone, still not sure if this is a positive or negative quality in her lifemate. Takatath finds the question ridiculous. "She may not be the biggest dragon or have the largest wings, and she's kind of chubby, but she's stubborn and she's got guile. Even when her wings started getting kinda tired she pushed, kept going until we were ordered down. Not a complaint." A snort, from the green, who certainly complained — at the time at which Niamyth told her she couldn't stay in the air. "I mean, except that we didn't let her work more. I know she wants to be able to fly as long as a blue, and maybe if she works on it every day …"

"Well, she'll have the opportunity to do that, but you're right not to let her strain herself. Even once you're in the wing, you can carry on building up her strength as you have been as weyrlings. P'quil reckons she's one of the tougher greens in your set." Or that's what he told R'zel, anyway! Verokanth has faint gingery amusement in his mind-voice as he asks the young green, « Does yours know what you can do? Riders sometimes worry too much about us. But it is important not to strain your wings. »

Takatath's frustration is evident in the dissatisfied chirping of birds that shadows her mindvoice, though she seems to be trying not to be too critical, almost holding back, « She worries a lot. Because I don't complain about being tired or sore. I'm not tired. Or sore. » Sometimes, Takatath is tired or sore, and she's just being stubborn, but the green likely has a better sense of how long she can fly than Kelati thinks she does. « I am not just stubborn. I'm strong. I'll land when I'm tired. » If Kelati is eavesdropping she's not showing signs, just chewing at the edge of her lip thoughtfully for a moment. "Oh, that I'm sure she is - the others didn't last as long as she did, as far as I could tell. Or seem to want to as much. She really just likes flying."

R'zel seems more satisfied with that answer - or maybe it's what Verokanth is relaying from the green. His smile spreads to his eyes. "Good. Well, you're going to get the chance to see what you can do on the upper level." He glances from rider to dragon and back as he says, "Kelati, Takatath, the Weyrleader has allowed me to fly with you. Which is the traditional way of saying, you're going to be in Ocelot. Welcome to the wing."

Someone was satisfying enough, and that's really all that matters! Kelati's one to assume it was her, and Takatath the same, and though they may never agree they'll be happy with it all the same. While Takatath seems expectantly pleased, Kelati's expression is one of complete surprise. "I — oh. Oh! Thank you, sir," she says brightly, trying to shake off the shock. Takatath sits up again, giving her wings a little stretch without hitting Verokanth — or at least trying not to.

"So, you'll join us for drills from now on - starting with PT tomorrow morning at dawn," R'zel instructs with a grin. "You'll find that Ocelots are early risers, because I see no point in people killing themselves by exercising in the heat of the day. And you'll fly drills with us for a few days before you join us for Fall. That'll give us all time to get used to each other, and work out where you and Takatath best fit."

"Sounds perfect." Kelati's something of a morning person — even if dawn is a little bit of a stretch — and Takatath does wake with the sun more often than not. "I can tell she's thrilled, too." Something in the eyes, and the way that Takatath sat alert, waiting just to take off again. "I — we really appreciate it, sir."

"Right! Report to Keitrill - she's my 'second, and she'll give you the schedules and get you going on sweeps, too. You can have Takatath bespeak Theibeth to find her." There's a distinct twinkle in R'zel's eyes as he adds, "And then if you want the lowdown on all of us, you might want to try Evka. After that, enjoy your last day of freedom. See you tomorrow!" He's done, and turns away to trot towards his dragon. Verokanth gets to his feet, and soon the pair are tackling the interesting task of taking off from a space that's really a bit too small for them.

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